I am boycotting the new World Trade Center movie. Dealing with the millions of dollars in claims I continue to see in my day job, not to mention the freakin' President's inability to leave the phrase "September 11th" out of every sentence that comes out of his mouth ("Honey, could you pass the 9-11 butter for my freedom toast?"), as if it's some sort of weird Turrett's thing.
It's not that I don't want to remember...the American Flag I put up on September 13th is still hanging on my cube wall, where I see it every day and can't help but remember, right next to the drawing of a NY firefighter passing a flag to a soldier that my stepmom sent me. I put that drawing up because I supported a military response to 9-11, I supported using force to subdue Al Qaeda and find the mastermind whose insanity and money have driven so much hatred and death since. I couldn't forget 9-11 if I wanted to, it's that carved into my heart.
However, I'm tired of hearing it used as a rallying cry for political purposes, and I'm tired of seeing atrocities committed under its banner, and I'm fucking tired of having my heartstrings tugged on gratuitously.
I think I'll go see Clerks II instead!
So, things are alright these days. I passed my annoying kidney stone, I'm taking bellydance classes with a friend, and I'm learning how to take full advantage of my tax dollars in rocking out the free pool action at various city parks.
I'm also writing music like crazy - I'm back to a song a week, right at pre-hiatus levels. Yay!
Other than that, not much going on. I'm playing more guitar, doing Qi Gong, enjoying the Bean workout, not drinking coffee, spending time with my plants, and prepping to be present at a birth for a friend....life is much better than it could be.
The stars are dimly seen among the shadows of the bay,
And lights that win are seen in strife with lights that die away.
The wave is very still -- the rudder loosens in our hand,
The zephyr will not fill our sail and waft us to the land;
O precious is the pause between the winds that come and go,
And sweet the silence of the shores between the ebb and flow.
No sound but sound of rest is on the bosom of the deep,
Soft as the breathing of a breast serenly hushed with sleep:
Lay by the ear; there is a voice at heart to sing or sigh --
O what shall be the choice of barcarolle or lullaby?
Say shall we sing of day or night, fair land or mighty ocean,
Of any rapturous delight or any dear emotion,
Of any joy that is on earth, or hope that is above--
The holy country of our birth, or any song of love?
Our heart in all our life is like the hand of one who steers
A bark upon an ocean rife with dangers and with fears;
The joys, the hopes, like waves or wings, bear up this life of ours --
Short as a song of all these things that make up all its hours.
Spread sail! For it is Hope today that like a wind new-risen
Doth waft us on a golden wing towards a new horizon,
That is the sun before our sight, the beacon for us burning,
That is the star in all our night of watching and of yearning.
Love is this thing that we pursue today, tonight, for ever,
We care not whither, know not who shall be at length the giver:
For Love, -- our life and all our years are cast upon the waves;
Our heart is as the hand that steers; -- but who is He that saves?
We ply with oars, we strive with every sail upon our mast --
We never tire, never fail -- and Love is seen at last:
A low and purple mirage like a coast where day is breaking --
Sink sail! for such a dream of Love is lost before the waking.
- Arthur William Edgar O'Shaughnessy
Recent entries...
27 December 2007: 2007: Finis.
17 December 2007: A ruse, a rant, and a poem. It's short.
11 December 2007: Music & falling....story of my life.
08 December 2007: Briefly...ish.
29 November 2007: A poem, a rant, a lesson.